Hydrocele: fluid around the testis

Hydrocele

A hydrocele is a common finding in a normal newborn baby and is a painless fluid filled sac that surrounds the testis. As the testis descends from its fetal origins in the abdomen near the kidney a sac travels with it to the scrotum allowing fluid to surround the testis. Before birth the sac usually closes off and the fluid is absorbed. In many newborns the absorption of the fluid is not completed and a hydrocele develops. It  does not cause damage to the associated testis, is painless and most resolve by 12 months of age. Occasionally if it is very large or hasn't reduced by 12-18 months, surgery is required.

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Newborn skin rashes

Newborn Skin conditions

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Sacral dimple

Sacral dimple

Sacral dimples are common - maybe 1:20 babies will have some sort of isolated skin dimple in the gluteal fold. Do they all need imaging?

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Asymmetric crying facies

Often confiused with a facial nerve palsy ACF is a congenital condition due to absence of the depressor anguli oris muscle which controls the muscle which controls the downward motion of the lip. When the baby cries the mouth is pulled downward on one side. . Most cases are isolated but a small number can be associted with other problems.

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